ON THE MINERAL RESOURCES OF NEW BRUNSWICK. 203 



(tine first easily recognised by its steel-like metallic lustre, and bright 

 reflecting surfaces, resembling mirrors, the second by its dull red earthy 

 or rusty character), while the sulphurets (generally called Pyrites, from 

 the fact that they strike fire like steel), are seldom used except when 

 existing in large quantities and of great purity. Slate however, im- 

 pregnated with decomposing Pyrites is valuable as the chief source of 

 the manufacture of Copperas or Green VitrioL It maybe of great 

 value at some future day, but exists elsewhere in such great quantities as 

 to be at present worthless. The same is partly true of Copper Pyrites, 

 which closely resembles the above, but which is of a deeper yellow 

 colour, and unlike the former will yield to the point of a knife. These 

 two ores, Iron and Copper Pyrites, together with an entirely valueless 

 mineral, called Mica, are those most frequently mistaken for metallic 

 gold, and are hence frequently called Fool's Gold. The three may 

 always be easily distinguished by the following means : — 



1. Gold can always be cut in slices like lead with a common pen- 

 knife, is unchanged by the hottest fire, and is beaten out without break- 

 ing by the blow of a hammer. 



2. Iron Pyrites is of a much lighter colour than gold, cannot be cut, 

 is very brittle, when heated gives off strong fumes of sulphur, and 

 flies into atoms by the blow of a hammer. 



3. Copper Pyrites looks mere like brass than the preceding, yields to 

 the point of a knife, but crumbles instead of cutting into slices like 

 gold, and also gives off strong fumes of sulphur when heated. 



The two latter are very frequently intimately combined, and the 

 resulting mineral is then called chalcopyrite. Mica is so wholly unlike 

 any metal, that it has always been a matter of surprise that any one 

 should mistake the two. As, however, the mistake is of frequent 

 occurrence, I may say that Mica can be easily recognised by the fact 

 of its splitting readily by the point of a knife into thin laminae or 

 leaves. I may also state in regard to gold, that I am unaware of any 

 authentic specimens having been as yet discovered in the province, not- 

 withstanding the numerous reports circulated to that effect. The report 

 which was current in several of the papers last winter, that specimens 

 had been sent to the University, and found to contain the precious 

 metal, was entirely without foundation, no such specimens having even 

 been seen at the University during the past twelve months. It is highly 

 probable, however, that such discoveries may yet be made. 



Manganese, of good quality, occurs in various parts of the province, 

 and resembles the ores of iron in many respects. The means of dis- 

 tinguishing the two, however, although simple, are not generally avail- 

 able to the public at large. This metal is used in the manufacture of 

 glass, both for producing and removing colours. It is also extensively 

 used for glazing and bleaching. 



The ore of lead (galena) is easily recognised by its lead-grey colour 

 and sharp angles, easily breaking into cubical blocks. It melts very 



